There is a popular series that I have a funny mix of love and loathing for. I love the fantasy elements, the author's vivid imagination, and the spunky main characters. What I don't like is the fact that in every single book, the author gets the young main characters to a point where it's hopeless, which is great, but then he always brings in some random magical being or adult to save the day, rather than letting his awesome main characters be strong enough to do it themselves. It's always a big disappointment for me.
My new big frustration with the book was a poorly done twist at the ending. I thought I loved big twists of plot near the end. That's one of the reason that I love Harry Potter, especially books 3 and 4 in that series. But this book I just finished last night taught me that there are a few things that I do not love in a twist ending. A good guy ended up being a bad guy, which I could handle, but this good/bad guy also happened to be the love interest, and there just weren't enough hints to lead up to the fact that this romance was doomed. So disappointing. It felt like one big huge "Gotcha," and I don't really like to feel tricked as a reader. It just changed gears so fast, without enough subtle hints to lead up to it.
In all fairness, the author is good enough at what he does right that I've bought every book in this series, and I'll probably buy the last one too. I suppose that's what I'll have to analyze next. What makes a book good enough that even if it's flawed, you can't wait to read more?
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Little Miracles
I've been trying this year to learn frugality. So instead of buying the dresser that I've been feeling like I need since we added one new person to the house, so I don't have to keep her clothes and things sitting in messy piles, I've been holding in the urge to spend that money. We haven't really figured furniture into the budget at this point. I've been looking at the thrift store in town, but they charge a lot for falling-apart dressers. My next plan was to browse garage sales this summer, but still, I wasn't sure if I should justify the expense, unless I could find it really, really cheap.
Well, this Saturday, I happened to be driving down the street with my husband on our weekly date, and we passed what looked like a garage sale. I noticed they had a dresser and a few other things that caught my eye, so we stopped. To my delight, the dresser was in good working order--and it was free. Yeah! They also gave us a cute little table and a couple solid wood doors that looked like they might make a nice fake headboard.
I know it's a small thing, but it will be such a blessing to have that dresser. It was a miracle to me that I was able to find it for free, that we happened to drive by shortly after they set out the free items, and that we happened to be out without the kids so we could fit the items in our van. I feel so blessed, and I'm grateful the Lord is mindful of me.
Well, this Saturday, I happened to be driving down the street with my husband on our weekly date, and we passed what looked like a garage sale. I noticed they had a dresser and a few other things that caught my eye, so we stopped. To my delight, the dresser was in good working order--and it was free. Yeah! They also gave us a cute little table and a couple solid wood doors that looked like they might make a nice fake headboard.
I know it's a small thing, but it will be such a blessing to have that dresser. It was a miracle to me that I was able to find it for free, that we happened to drive by shortly after they set out the free items, and that we happened to be out without the kids so we could fit the items in our van. I feel so blessed, and I'm grateful the Lord is mindful of me.
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